Under the Water (Book 1)

Twenty-One

We lay on the bed like that for a while.

Scarlette keeps saying my name. "Quinnson,"

I love the way it sounds when she says it. "Scarlette." I say back smiling.

"I think I really like you Quinnson." She says leaning forward and pressing her lips against mine again. I run my hands through her hair. Savoring the wonderful sensation.

"I think I really like you to Scar." i echo back to her. Meaning it with every word, every sound an movement.

"You're my first kiss." Scar murmurs as she looks up at me smiling.

"Really?" I say, grinning. A rush of pleasure tides through me. I can't help but feeling happy about it.

Scarlette just nods sleepily and nestles against my chest again. I lay back to and stroke her hair. She's so quiet and still, I almost miss when she actually falls asleep, but when she does, I watch her serene pale face. Her skin is perfect, there isn't a blemish whatsoever. Well almost, I smile as I rub my finger against the faintest of markings right on her left eyebrow. It's so small she probably doesn't even know it's there, or remember...

"I dare you." I said, crossing my arms and lifting my chin. "I did it I bet you can't."

Scarlettes nostrils flared as she stomped her foot in frustration. "I'm not allowed too!!!" She shouted, "I'll get in trouble!"

"You're just making excuses." I huffed. I was really disappointed. She needed to be up there, to see the dome, and feel how it felt to be up there, in danger of falling, in danger to be seen, to be able to see all and yet not see anything beyond our circle of protection. "Fine then don't do it." I said starting to turn away. Maybe Mom was wrong, Scar's not as fun as she said she would be.

"Fine I'll do it." I turn around and I see her chin now lifted in a defiant pose. Her lips set in a grim line. "But you have to go up first again."

A grin broke out across my face. And I started climbing.

By the time Scarlette had gotten to the top after me, the artificial lights of the city were at just the right dimming point, making everything look golden and red.

I looked over to see Scarlette's expression and grinned in smug satisfaction, her face was radiant. I knew she felt it. The freedom up here. Her hair glowed the exact color of the city. Mom was right. I admitted.

"You see over there?" I said, tugging on her sleeve. She pulled her gaze away from the city and toward the tall lonely tower I was pointing too. "I'm convincing my parents to let me sleep up there That way I'll always be as close to here as possible. You're technically the closest. I mean you can climb right outside your window..." I trailed of and continued to stare at the city.

"SCARLETTE!!!" A scream startles us out of our stupor. We look down the to courtyard, and see one of Scar's ladies in waiting looking up in horror. Startled, Scar starts to shimmy down up the way she came. "NO STOP! WAIT NO KEEP GOING! SCARLETTE!" The screaming causes her to look over her shoulder.

I knew then that was the mistake. Her foot slipped.

and she fell.

I snap out of my daydream and look back at Scarlette. She needs to be moved, as much as I wish... She can't stay. After a great deal of difficulty I get Scar down the passageway and back into her room. I kiss her on the forehead and leave.

I remember the rest of that day when she fell, I grabbed her just in time, and after skidding a few feet along with her, I finally hooked myself on the a gutter, when Scar swung around me, that was when she hit her forehead, it was on the edge of a loose tile, it cut along her forehead. I panicked at first, I had never seen blood before. But when she guards finally came and got her down I figured out she was fine. The nurses and healing machines in the infirmary left only the slightest of marks.